Supplemental conductor for piping



April 1937- I w. G. KOERBER 2,076,466

SUPPLEMENTAL CONDUCTOR FOR PIPING Filed Nov. 21, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL CONDUCTOR FOR PIPING Application November 21, 1935, Serial No. 50,825

3 Claims.

This invention relates to tubing for use as beer coils and is particularly adaptable for use in beer dispensing equipment as revealed and described in my co-pending application Serial No.

5 50,823, filed November 21, 1935. I

In the above mentioned application is revealed a method and means for preserving the cleanli ness of the inside of a beer delivery coil by subjecting the beer passing through the coil to a source of electric energy. According to that application, it is possible to add the parts indicated to existing apparatus and in the case of coils of substantial length, to connect the electric lead lines into the coil at a plurality of points.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a coil which has the effect of providing electric connection with the coil at an infinite number of points.

The material from which beer coils are usually made is known as block tin. This material is a conductor of electricity but, as compared to other metals such as copper and silver it is a relatively poor conductor. The object of this invention is to provide a tube of block tin and to incorporate therein a strand of some high conductive material such as silver.

Other objects and advantages will become hereinafter more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein my invention is illustrated and wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through my improved beer coil;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a metallic part of the coil, and

Fig. 3 is a diametric section through the tube of Fig. 2.

The companion application above-identified, presents a dispensing system for beverages such as beer. In such systems, it is usual to connect the container, such as a keg, with the dispensing tap by a metallic connection which includes a coil that is generally externally cooled. The connection and coil is generally made of block tin and of comparatively thin-wall type; being oi a metal that lends itself to heat and cold conduction it permits rapid cooling of the beverage while being dispensed. The connection and coil, however, has the draw-back that there is a tendency or beer content, such as yeast cells, etc., to deposit on the inner wall of the connection, and when these remain for a short perioda week, for instance-the taste of the beer changes, and it becomes less appetizing. As a result, it is the practice, to regularly remove the connection and coil with a view to cleaning the inner surface of its deposits, thus restoring the conduit to its initial condition.

Various methods have been employed with a view to avoiding these conditions, a common method being to place within the connections a pair of opposing electrodes or their equivalent, these being connected up to a source of electrical Y energy; when the conduit is filled with the beverage and the current applied, the circuit is completed through the beverage stream, the purpose being to render the yeast cells incapable of growth and to deposit or be otherwise eliminated, thus avoiding the necessity for cleansing the connections. This idea has been proposed in various forms and by various means. Generally the circuit is completed with the gap extending transversely of the stream, with the result that the stream is moving past a fixedly-positioned gap; if the current is of the D. C. type, the flow through gap being in one direction, while if the current is of the A. C. type, the reversals set up by the alternations tend to cause flow alternately across the gap but the reversals are with extreme rapidity, dependent upon the number of cycles found in the current. It has been proposed to locate the electrodes at opposite ends of a short section or the conduit, so that the gap extends lengthwise of the stream instead of transversely of the stream, but the distance must be short since the gap must be bridged through the content.

The system of the companion application is broadly of this latter type, viz: the use of an elec- .tric current designed to have its circuit completed through the stream itself. But instead of relying upon the presence of a gap of the types referred to, the system operates somewhat differently, in that the circuit is completed in such manner that the current passes through the stream in one direction (generally speaking) while the stream is advancing through a zonal length of travel, and then, while the stream continues its travel, the direction of current flow through the stream is reversed for a second zonal distance, so that in any given increment of the stream, it must first pass through a zone in which the current flow is generally in one direction after which it passes through a second zone in which the direction of current flow is reversed. This is literally true if current of the D. C. type is employed, and under A. C. current conditions a somewhat similar efiect is produced.

In the companion application the operation is produced by dividing the connection and inserting between the metallic sections an interposed section of insulating material, thus completing the conduit. Internally of the insulating section is mounted a tubular metallic element of good electrical conductivity, such silver, for instance, with the element less length than the insulating section and symmetrically disposed relative to the section length; the element is connected at about its mid-len th with one side of the source of electrical one r; since the ends of the element are spaced from hie adjacent ends of the metallic conduit see a status set up with respect to t scent sections. The other side of the sour iectrical energy is connected to such adjacent metallic sections, so that both of the latter have the same polarity at any given instant, while the tubular element is of the opposite polarity at such instant. Hence the current flow is in opposite directions relative to such mid-length position of the tubular ele" ment; since the stream flow is constant in direc tion, the stream content is subject to the conditions above pointed out-flow through a zone of current flow in one direction and then through a zone in which the current flow is in the opposite direction.

One of the problems in this arrangement is brought about by the fact that the material of the connection and coil-blocl: urn-has rel tively low electrical conductivity as compared with that oi the silver terminal element referred to. The thin wall arrangement does not offer material difllculty for current flow transversely through the wall, but provides a serious problem when considered in the longitudinal direction of length of the wall, especially Where the length to be rendered active is considerable, such as conteinplated by the length of the zones to he aiiected is as above indicated. In the form dis closed in the companion application, this condi tion is met by employing a plurality of clamps secured at spaced intervals in the direction of length of each. of the metallic sections; the clamps are each connected to the same side of the source or. electrical energy, so that all have the same polarity at any given instant. Hence, at the points where the clamps are located the thin wall permits culrent flow into the stream, and since these clamps are at varying distances from the metallic element which presents the opposite polarity, varying distances are set up to he bridged by the current passing through the stream, with the result that the zonal length of the current activity in the stream becomes fairly long and ensures activity for considerable distance of the flow path of the beer.

As will be understood the spacing of the clamps tends to provide spaced points within the Zone, and in addition, requires the use of a nurriher of clamps with the necessary Wiring. The present invention has for its purpose a simplified way in which these metallic sections can he made active in this Way, and with the advantage of providing a multitude of points.

1 indicates a tube of metal which is a relatively poor conductor of electricity, such as tin, and 2 indicates a strand of metal which is a relatively good conductor oi electricity, such as silver. The strand is embedded in the wall of the tube i. This may he suitably done by the Well known extrusion process.

The tube 5 is used as a beer coil to connect a Reg and spigot, as revealed in my aforementioned copending application. Interposed in the length of the tube l is a section 3 oi fiber or other non-conductive rna erlal. Within this section 3 is a terminal 4 in substantial spaced relation with the sections of the tube l and connected to this terminal 4 is a source of low voltage electrical power through the lead line 5. The other electrical line 5 is connected to one or both sections of the tube l.

The drawing presents out nections of the system panlon app1f"tion, the insulating section and o '0 element cono to the source clcc "ical energy, those hown herein at 3, t 5; the relation of hing sections of the metallic hloclr tin tuhular portions is similar to that of the cornpanion application, but these metallic sections a. portion of the conclosed in the compresenting the plurality shown in Instead of utilizing the 1;" ever, the present inventio l of the sectior section.

frllnce the tre t '4 in n contact with the cl material resistance since the Wall thickness also current out actu ly li' la is a g on stead of sp ced points; tl i" the fact ti the becomes effective to c "adi rent value in the of the sections, the co ensure the cc of siderahle length, a car 11 on some of the rernoter shown in the comp ion Words, the present n'iaticully deti zones. The fact e length i condor conductivity me latter serve such sci conditions would he hishterialh affected hy conductivity.

What I claim is:- l. In heverage dispensing apparatus, wherein the beverage is delivered through a conduit including a pair of tubular metallic sections of thin wall characteristic and insulated from each other by an interposed section or insulating material with the latter carrying an internal terminal for one side oi a source oi. electrical energy and with the opposite side of such source extending to the metallic sections, and wherein the current path is completed through the beverage carried by the conduit, said metallic sections each comprising a tubular wall of extended length and of comparatively low electrical conductivity, and a metallic strand of comparatively high electrical conductivity embedded within and extending longitudinally of the wall and unexposed to either periphery of the wall, said strand being free from direct electrical connection with said internal terminal in an assembly oi the conduit and serving as a current distributor for current applied locally to the periphery of one of said sections, whereby the current flow between the opposite sides of the source will extend between the internal terminal, the beverage content within the assembly and radially through the metallac section wall with the strand active as a distributor over an extended length 01' the section.

2. A section as in claim 1, characterized in that the strand and section are co-extensive as to length.

3. A section as in claim 1, characterized in that the sections are of block tin and with the strand oi silver.

WILLIAM G. KOERBER. 

